thoughts on pebble beach

[ficke]

So, I got back from my little road trip in the 930 (1800 miles round trip) to the Monterey peninsula, I was giving a couple of tickets to the Pebble beach concours and had a friend I could stay with out there.
So I went to something that is not really my thing.

As I looked at these absolutely beautiful cars that are really the standard of perfection in restoration, I became kind of sad. I started to relies that most of these cars will never be used again for what they were built for, incredible transportation.
They have become stationary objects of art, occasionally putting around at low speed.

The wipers will never be used, the fenders will never keep water off the car while blasting down the road, the heaters will never make a cozy cocoon for the drivers.
The engines will never be opened up to full 'song' again.
They all pretty much have become shadows of their former, very dynamic glory, to become stagnant objects with very limited movement.
Yes, some people drive their cars but most of them will never be used again as wonderful transportation.
How I value and use cars is dramatically different than many others.

[NYNick]

I agree, mostly. The only exceptions are the truly historically significant originals.
The rich collectors are collecting ribbons, not cars, although some turn out to provide outstanding ROI, while sitting in garages.

It is a little sad.

[specialtyoneinc]

Just 1 of the many problems of the 1%.

[kevin930t]

I love the first picture the most,but could you imagine driving a dusenberg j type to monterey,i could and probably would and all though most of them are not driven as intende now but in order to qualify for a ribbon they have to complete the parade and drive up and over the platform as you know.How did you like the event?? I would love to see more pics of your 930 there..

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[shlobeck]

I spent several days in Monterey and actually saw your euro '78 parked on Junipero. Went to Werks and Legends, both great shows. I'm planning on driving my '79 930 up next year. I've fallen into the trap of only showing/driving my cars and not touring with them. I'm slowly changing that trend.

[techweenie]

Well, not all owners of valuable cars are dilettantes.

This is an 8-figure Alfa the owner drives a fair amount...

[73.5TinPA]

ficke, you are making false assumptions about the cars not being driven.

Many collectors hire full time mechanics to maintain & drive their vintage cars.

Just enjoy that you were privileged to see the beautiful machines all cleaned up.

[Mick_D]

MY thoughts on Pebble Beach:
1. MAN it is windy.
2. What is that SMELL?
3. Friggin' COLD here, no wonder there's no hot chicks in bikinis frolicking around
4. These Pebbles aren't so fancy! They're just little ROCKS! And they HURT when I step on them in bare feet!

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by 73.5TinPA

ficke, you are making false assumptions about the cars not being driven.

Many collectors hire full time mechanics to maintain & drive their vintage cars.

Just enjoy that you were privileged to see the beautiful machines all cleaned up.

That's not "using the car for wonderful transportation", which is the point IckyFIcke made in his post (very clearly made, by the way).

[ficke]

I did not say they were not driven as an absolute. I know some people will tool around on a nice day, maybe to cars and coffee or some local car show. A few people might even take their cars to dinner or a drive in the country, or even race, wonderful.
But really how many?
When even people with vastly less expensive or even very rare cars will not drive their toy car, why? sad really.
I can understand, sort of, some one of limited means (myself) worried about lowering their asset value, but hopefully you come to a understanding that these cars are holding their value more, even driving, than the new car your drive to work every day.

But rich people who have real money and do not drive their cars? why?

Europeans seem to look at cars different than US owners, In Europe a super car is just that, a car that does every thing better, in the rain, snow, traffic, mountain climbs etc. And they have rock chips and dings and curb hits. Used.
In the US there is a large group that that looks at super car more of a status symbol to show case wealth, that needs to be protected and cherished as an investment.
The most fun I have with a toy car is represented in this photo, driving it. It was really the best part of the trip, the drive there and back.
Here are some Werks Reunion pictures, that was a great venue.

[ficke]

Originally Posted by kevin930t

I love the first picture the most,but could you imagine driving a dusenberg j type to monterey,i could and probably would and all though most of them are not driven as intende now but in order to qualify for a ribbon they have to complete the parade and drive up and over the platform as you know.How did you like the event?? I would love to see more pics of your 930 there..

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I enjoyed it.
The first time I went was quite few years ago when the tickets were $22.00 and there was a lot of room to look at cars, but also a lot less cars. I had a lot of fun then.

The second time I went tickets had more than doubled and were $55.00, there were more cars but even more people and I said I would never go again.

This time tickets were $375 at the door for each one! I have a couple of friends who are judges and one of them gave me their extra set of tickets, other wise I would not have gone. The crowd was huge, but still I had fun. Really great cars, I especially like this, new to me, preservation class. Real cars, as they were and as driven and used.
It also seemed like a lot of the crowed were not car people but people who wanted to be part of the 'seen'
Here are some pictures of a preservation class Bugatti

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by 73.5TinPA

ficke, you are making false assumptions about the cars not being driven.

Many collectors hire full time mechanics to maintain & drive their vintage cars.

Just enjoy that you were privileged to see the beautiful machines all cleaned up.

I'm sorry....did you re-read that post after you wrote it? Full time mechanics maintaining and driving their owner's cars?

Talk about the 1%. So the owners only drive the cars across the lawn at Pebble to collect ribbons? Isn't this what we're talking about?

[ficke]

Originally Posted by pmax

$22 to $55 to $375 , what bubble ?

They are not raising the ticket price because they need the money, it is to cut the crowd down, and it keeps growing.
And car prices did hit a few bubbles and go through some big price fluctuations in that time period, 25years, very much bubbles happened.

[kevin930t]

Now that they added that class,there has got to be some people kicking themselves in the acehole,as i am sure that alot of those cars looked like that at one point...I geuss they are only original once..

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[1979-930]

Originally Posted by pmax

$22 to $55 to $375 , what bubble ?

Could the price increase be an attempt to limit the number of spectators?
It seems it's not working.

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by ficke

I enjoyed it.
The first time I went was quite few years ago when the tickets were $22.00 and there was a lot of room to look at cars, but also a lot less cars. I had a lot of fun then.

The second time I went tickets had more than doubled and were $55.00, there were more cars but even more people and I said I would never go again.

This time tickets were $375 at the door for each one!

WOW. I remember going in the mid-70s, and it was possible to walk out on the lawn when they were staging the cars. Maybe 20-25 people wandering around. Ticket prices were in the $20s. Significant portion of the crowd was dressed in vintage clothing...

Glad I got to see that.

2014, I went and on the lawn in front of the lodge were some exotics and a big crowd all excited to see Jay Leno, when 80 feet away, Derek Bell was standing by a car, apparently unrecognized. Different crowd these days. Not really a 'car crowd.'

[kevin930t]

375.oo at the door,think i would put some new shoes on the old 930 and take a pair of bonactulars,haha

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[CountD]

Originally Posted by Mick_D

MY thoughts on Pebble Beach:
1. MAN it is windy.
2. What is that SMELL?
3. Friggin' COLD here, no wonder there's no hot chicks in bikinis frolicking around
4. These Pebbles aren't so fancy! They're just little ROCKS! And they HURT when I step on them in bare feet!

Yeah, I've been there quite a few times. A good buddy of mine lives in Pacific Grove.

I always wonder why they don't have an event of this caliber in SoCal (ie. La Jolla, Torrey Pines, Coronado, Point Loma, etc, etc.) in the greater San Diego area.

Monterey is special, but it's a small town and away from everything, and getting there is logistically not that great, and when it fills up you're staying in Salinas and beyond. Going for the first time is special and driving the 101 for the first time in a sports car is sweet.

[Mick_D]

I think I drove the 101 ( and the 5 and the other alternative routes ) for the first time in 1978 or so. It may never get old but it sure has changed.

[CountD]

Originally Posted by Mick_D

I think I drove the 101 ( and the 5 and the other alternative routes ) for the first time in 1978 or so. It may never get old but it sure has changed.

Yeah to that too. My first time in San Diego was 1992. Going north about the same time. California has become a little too invasive for me. Still a great state though.